American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) President Michael McGuffin presented and served on “The Law and Chemistry of Dietary Supplements” panel yesterday during the 237th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting held March 22-26 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

ACS invited McGuffin to provide an overview of the regulation of dietary supplements under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). McGuffin was also asked to share his expertise on the regulation of new dietary ingredients (NDI) under the law.

“AHPA’s NDI database, guidance for industry and educational events established the organization as a leading expert in regulatory and legal issues related to NDIs,” said McGuffin. “It was my pleasure to share the knowledge we have accumulated through our understanding of the law and diligent review of NDI submissions with members of the ACS.”

Also presenting during the panel were Food and Drug Administration’s Angela Pope and Saleh Turujman; U.S. Pharmacopeia’s John Atwater and Mary Hardy, Ph.D., medical director for Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Medicine at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the only national trade association devoted to herbal issues. Representing the core of the botanical trade—comprised of the finest growers, processors, manufacturers and marketers of herbal products—our mission is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products. AHPA committees generate self-regulations to ensure the highest level of quality with respect to the way herbal products are manufactured, labeled, and sold. Website: www.ahpa.org.